I love the New Testament book of Philemon. That short letter from Paul of only 25 very short verses is easily overlooked in our Bible study, but it is the perfect analogy or example of redemption.
Imagine with me a dark home with everyone sound asleep. A figure moves silently gathering up valuable items and then sneaking quietly out the door. That thief was a trusted slave named Onesimus (Greek for useful). He high tailed it to Rome where he would be able to blend into the huge crowds and avoid detection, but wouldn’t you know it, he ran smack into Paul who immediately recognized him from visiting his master’s home. Onesimus confessed and Paul led him to faith in Jesus Christ. Then Onesimus began servicing God by serving the needs of Paul and others in prison. Paul and Onesimus both knew that he would eventually have to return to his master and face the music, so Paul wrote a letter for him to take with him to give to his master, Philemon.
Philemon stood in front of his home as he spotted a person approaching from a distance. As the person got closer he recognized Onesimus and the hurt and anger began to build within him. But as Onesimus approached him, he dropped to his knees and presented Paul’s letter. Finally taking his eyes off of Onesimus, Philemon recognized Paul’s handwriting and called to his wife, “Apphia, come quick there is a letter from Paul.” No doubt she pulled up short when she saw Onesimus, but then Philemon read the letter out loud. Paul acknowledged that Onesimus had not been useful to Philemon in the past, but he had become useful to Paul and other believers and Paul was returning him to Philemon not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ stating that he would pay the price for whatever Onesimus had taken. The Bible doesn’t tell us how Philemon and Apphia responded, but reading Paul’s letter it doesn’t take much imagination to know that it was a very happy ending.
Once, I was trying to escape from the presence of God, stealing some of His blessings along the way. But then I ran smack into Jesus, who immediately recognized me and my sins. He offered me His love, mercy and grace. I confessed and I have shown my love for Him by obeying and serving Him and others. We both know that I will eventually have to return to my Master and face the music before His judgement throne, so Jesus has written a letter on my heart in His blood for me to present to His Father. When the Father looks into my heart He will immediately recognize His Son’s handwriting and His shed blood and know that Jesus has paid the price for all of my sins and He is returning me to the Father not as a slave to sin, but as a son and Jesus’ adopted brother. My redemption will be complete. .
This story of redemption is true for every Christian and it doesn’t take our imagination to know there will be a very happy ending to every one of those stories.